The bout is scheduled for May 16 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, and will be broadcast exclusively by Netflix, the streaming site’s first-ever live MMA broadcast. It will be contested at the featherweight limit of 145 pounds, with five, 5-minute rounds using 4-ounce gloves.

Rousey, 39, (12-2, 9 Submissions, 3 KOs) was at one time the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but retired in 2016 following two straight losses and subsequently made a foray in professional wrestling with World Wrestling Entertainment.

‘Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history!’ Rousey said. ‘And we’re partnering with the fighter-first promotion MVP as well as the biggest and baddest streamer on the planet Netflix. This is for all MMA fans past, present and future. More to come… much more.’

The 43-year-old Carano (7-1, 1 Submission, 3 KOs) retired after her loss to Cris Cyborg in 2019 and became an actress, appearing in The Expendables 3, Furious 7, Entourage, and Disney+’s The Mandalorian. She was fired from The Mandalorian in 2021 following controversial social media posts. Carano sued Disney for wrongful termination, and the lawsuit ended in a settlement.

‘Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for and it has been her dream to make this fight happen between us,’ Carano said. ‘She thanked me for opening up doors for her in her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen. This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive.’

MILAN — One of the most anticipated events at the 2026 Winter Olympics gets underway today, with the “Blade Angels” of the United States headlining.

The women’s singles figure skating field is stacked, and the competition opens with the short program. Three American skaters — Amber Glenn, Alysa Liu and Isabeau Levito aka ‘the ‘Blade Angels’ — are going against the Japanese powers of Kaori Sakamoto and Mone Chiba in what will be a thrilling spectacle here at Milano Ice Skating Arena. 

Watch Olympics figure skating on Peacock

When does women’s figure skating start?

The women’s short program begins at 12:45 p.m. ET.

What time is figure skating on TV today?

Figure skating will air on USA Network beginning at 12:45 p.m. ET. It will move to NBC at 2:40 p.m. ET. The entire event is streaming on Peacock.

Facts about figure skating

Athleticism meets grace in figure skating, one of the most popular sports at the Winter Olympics. Whether skaters are performing gravity-defying jumps or experiencing a wide array of emotions in the designated ‘Kiss and Cry’ area, figure skating has captivated Olympic audiences across the world for more than a century. The 2026 Milano Cortina Games will be no different.

Here’s everything you need to know about figure skating and how it works at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

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‘I don’t think people should be dying in the streets just for existing,’ Gauff said Feb. 16 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

As one of the top competitors in the world, the 21-year-old spends much of her tennis season overseas. She said it’s hard to watch developments in the United States related to President Trump’s immigration policies. Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed in Minneapolis last month by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

‘It is tough to wake up and see something because I do care a lot about our country,’ Gauff said. ‘I think people think I don’t for some reason, but I do. I’m very proud to be American.

‘You don’t have to represent the entire values of what’s going on in the leadership. I think there’s a lot of people around that believe in the things I believe in, believe in diversity and equality.’

Gauff, who has previously used her platform to speak out about politics and social issues, told the media this week she felt comfortable sharing her thoughts. She pointed to her family history.

In 1961, the Florida native’s maternal grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, was the first Black student to integrate Seacrest High School in Delray Beach, Florida.

‘My grandma is literally an activist,’ Gauff said. ‘This is literally my life. I’m OK answering tough questions.’

Instead, they met with Iowa State senior associate athletics director Shamaree Brown. Brown told the athletes the remainder of the ISU gymnastics season was canceled.

“After a careful and thoughtful review of the program over the last week, it became apparent that we do not have enough student-athletes available to safely compete, and thus have made the painful decision to cancel the remainder of our gymnastics season,’ Brown said in a statement released Feb. 8. ‘The health, safety and overall welfare of our student-athletes is paramount, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they are able to safely train and compete at the highest level.”

The cancellation occurred three days after the Cyclones forfeited a meet against West Virginia. In a statement on Feb. 5, coach Ashley Miles Greig said the competition was canceled because, ‘At this time, we do not have enough student-athletes available to safely field a team.’

Brown confirmed to USA TODAY Sports Network he held individual meetings with gymnasts the week after the cancellation. Iowa State administration officials met with members of the gymnastics program, including assistant coaches, on Feb. 13.

School administrators have not said publicly what led to the cancellation. And fans and athletes are left wondering what the canceled season means for gymnasts’ careers and if the program will ever return.

‘They’re scared,’ said one parent of a current gymnast who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared being identified could hurt their child’s career. “My concern is that my daughter has no idea what her future holds: How many years she has left of gymnastics, where she’s going to be going to school, what’s going to go on?’

Former Iowa State gymnast Shea Mattingly, whose last name was Anderson when she graduated in 2012, is part of a group of more than 100 alumni who mobilized in a group chat and drafted a statement asking for transparency, which they posted online. They also emailed the statement to Iowa State administrators including Brown, athletic director Jamie Pollard and interim university president David Spalding.

“As alumni, we just want accountability that the university is doing what’s right for those student-athletes and the program,’ Mattingly said. ‘Those are our biggest concerns and I think the silence is killing it and I think that’s what’s scary. I’m sure you see all the rumors that are (spreading) all over the internet and I think the longer it goes on, the worse it gets. People just speculating. That’s where we’re just trying to get answers.”

Iowa State gymnastics alumni concerned about season’s cancellation

In their email, the alumni expressed their disappointment over the program’s cancellation and asked how the school is supporting current gymnasts.

Josie Te Slaa, who competed for Iowa State gymnastics from 2022-25 when her last name was Bergstrom, said alumni feel they deserve answers so they can advocate for the current gymnasts.

“I think just any way that alumni or administration can support them and reach out, have an encouraging word, will be helpful in advocating for them and the program,’ Te Slaa said. ‘Setting up different counseling or therapy or getting together team meetings and just talking in ways that could be supportive for the future of Iowa State gymnastics. I think the girls just need a lot of support from that end emotionally, mentally.”

Mattingly said she and a handful of other alums sent individual follow-up emails to administrators, reiterating their concerns.

“Obviously that’s our number one concern is just for the student-athletes, like their current needs, are they being supported, do they have someone to talk to right now,’ Mattingly said. ‘Their season just got cut short. This is new territory for them. What happens next? I’m sure they’re scared, they’re worried and we just want to know is someone guiding them through this? Who do they have to talk to? So that’s our obviously number one concern as alumni, and then obviously our program in general. Just what are they doing to ensure that this program stays successful in the future?’

Te Slaa said Iowa State’s response has been unsatisfactory.

‘Very vague responses, but in their shoes, they have a lot of people reaching out, a lot of things to sort out,’ Te Slaa said. ‘I am very grateful that we have gotten a response and that we are respected in that way, that they were able to respond to us, maybe not answering specific questions or anything. … But obviously, yeah, still looking for more clarification on things from administration.’

Te Slaa said her experience as an Iowa State gymnast was positive, and added she cares deeply about the future of the program because of the relationships and lessons that she gained during her time on the team.

‘The program means a lot to me because of the lessons I learned as a gymnast,’ she said. ‘Not only are you a gymnast learning lessons, you’re a person and a human learning lessons. I think there are a lot of life lessons that come from being a student-athlete. So I think the opportunity for those gymnasts in club gymnastics to go to college and do the sport they love is super important to me and for Iowa State to still have a program that offers that for young gymnasts like I was.’

Iowa State gymnasts remain in limbo

Iowa State spokesman Nick Joos told USA TODAY Sports Network on Feb. 9 the school’s compliance department would work with the Big 12 Conference to apply for season-of-competition waivers that could allow Cyclone gymnasts to retain a year of NCAA eligibility.

In an email to USA TODAY Sports Network on Feb. 16, Brown confirmed the waiver request process was ongoing and said he did not have a timeline for its completion.

‘We are currently working through the various factors required for an NCAA waiver request; however, we are not able to provide a date for when waivers will be submitted,’ Brown wrote. ‘The NCAA waiver process is complex and, in some cases, may require submission by another institution depending on the situation.’

Whether or not the gymnasts receive waivers, it remains to be seen whether they will have the option to continue their careers at Iowa State.

When USA TODAY Sports Network asked directly whether there have been discussions to eliminate the Iowa State gymnastics program, Brown responded, ‘Our priority has remained on supporting the gymnasts in the aftermath of this decision, and we have not shifted our focus away from ensuring they continue to receive the care and resources they need.’

Further complicating gymnastics’ circumstances are the program’s and Iowa State’s financial situations. 

Iowa State’s annual financial report submitted to the NCAA for fiscal year 2025 showed the gymnastics program lost more than $1.4 million. Gymnastics generated $287,392 in total operating revenues with $1.69 million in expenses. 

Gymnastics was allotted 14 scholarships, according to Iowa State’s most recent financial report. 

Overall, the athletic department reported total operating revenues of almost $118 million that exceeded its expenses by $6,045 last year. Football and men’s basketball were the only sports that did not lose money.

In a presentation to the university’s Board of Regents last summer, the Iowa State athletics department reported a potential $147 million budget deficit through 2031 — essentially a $25 million shortfall per year — as it adjusts to the new revenue-sharing era of collegiate sports. Under the House vs. NCAA settlement, universities are permitted to pay their athletes for name, image and likeness rights. The cap on payments this year is $20.5 million, and it will continue to increase. 

If Iowa State cannot grow its revenues or find assistance elsewhere, such as direct state support, its financial situation will grow increasingly difficult and could portend hard choices — like the future of some non-revenue sports. 

Meanwhile, Brown told USA TODAY Sports Network in an email on Feb. 16 that Cyclone gymnasts are not being permitted to use Iowa State’s gymnastics facilities, ‘As a result of concerns that were raised, which ultimately led to the suspension of the season.’

Brown replied to a follow-up message asking him to specify what those concerns were and who raised them. ‘I’m not able to share any additional details,’ he wrote.

According to NCAA policy, the Iowa State gymnasts are allowed to train at private gyms so long as no more than two of them are present at the same time.

Soon after the season’s cancellation, at least half of the Cyclone gymnasts revived their old recruiting accounts on Instagram and began posting videos of their routines, possibly signaling their intent to transfer.

The NCAA transfer-portal window for women’s gymnastics opens March 30. NCAA policy stipulates non-football athletes can initiate a transfer request at any time if their sport is discontinued or if their head coach departs. In the second scenario, athletes have a 30-day window to enter the transfer portal.

Brown confirmed Miles Greig and the rest of her coaching staff — assistants Jazmyn Estrella, Mary Wise and Ragan Smith — remained employed as of Feb. 16, writing, ‘The employment status of our coaching staff has not changed.’

This is Miles Greig’s third season at Iowa State, her first collegiate coaching job. She was a four-time NCAA champion gymnast at Alabama and a member of the U.S. women’s national team from 2001-03. Before Iowa State hired her in April 2023, according to her biography on the school’s athletics website, Miles Greig worked in automobile finance while serving as a choreographer to optional and elite level gymnasts. She also worked as a gymnastics analyst on ESPN network broadcasts.

The Cyclones have a 20-42 record in three seasons under Miles Greig, including a 2-8 mark this season before the cancellation. The Cyclones were ranked 59th nationally, which slotted them as the lowest-rated program from a power conference, behind one Division II school and only slightly ahead of a number of Division III programs.

Miles Greig contract expires on June 30, 2026, an athletic department spokesman confirmed.

Miles Greig did not return a phone call for this article.

Super Bowl 60 is now in the books, and the NFL will start to look ahead to its 2026 season after the Seattle Seahawks’ 29-13 win over the New England Patriots.

The NFL has already seen significant turnover during the 2026 offseason. Ten teams made coaching changes while a whopping 21 will have new offensive coordinators in place for the upcoming campaign.

Could the league see similar movement on its annual quarterback carousel? A damper may be put on drama at the quarterback position with the 2026 NFL Draft class largely looking like a one-man show.

That said, plenty of other veterans may find themselves available this offseason. Kirk Cousins is expected to be released ahead of the new league year; Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa could end up being trade bait; and Derek Carr may consider unretiring for the right situation.

Who might be in line to start at quarterback in 2026 once the dust is settled? Here’s a way-too-early prediction of each NFL team’s planned starting quarterback for the upcoming season.

NFL starting QB predictions for 2026

Arizona Cardinals: Tua Tagovailoa

The Cardinals will likely dangle Kyler Murray as trade bait this offseason. If they find a trade partner, they could roll with Jacoby Brissett as their starter while also looking to pair the 33-year-old with a younger quarterback.

Tagovailoa – 28 in March – would fit the bill. He had a down year in 2025, tossing 15 interceptions before being benched in favor of Quinn Ewers, but could be a bounce-back candidate after posting a passer rating of 101.1 or better across the previous three seasons.

Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr.

Giving Penix one more shot to prove himself would likely be prudent for Atlanta, as the team doesn’t have many clear-cut paths to a big-time quarterback upgrade. The 2024 first-round pick has arm talent and could benefit from Stefanski’s tutelage after completing 59.6% of his passes for 2,757 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions in 12 starts across his first two NFL seasons.

If the team is worried about Penix’s potential return from a torn ACL, it could bring in a veteran stopgap to compete with him. A player like Joe Flacco, who opened the 2026 season as Stefanski’s starter in Cleveland, would be a sensible target for such a role.

Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson

Jackson missed four games due to injury last season but still posted strong numbers for the Ravens. First-year coach Jesse Minter will be happy to have the two-time MVP and three-time All-Pro first-teamer at his disposal.

Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen

Allen won the NFL MVP award in 2024 and finished third in the 2025 voting. The soon-to-be 30-year-old will continue in his quest to lead the Bills to their first Super Bowl since the 1993 NFL season, now with Joe Brady as his coach instead of Sean McDermott.

Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young

The Panthers are planning to pick up Young’s fifth-year option, indicating they are willing to trust him as their quarterback for the 2026 NFL season, and potentially beyond. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft posted career-best marks in completion percentage (63.6%), passing yards (3,011), passing touchdowns (23) and passer rating (87.8) and helped guide the Panthers to the playoffs in his second season working with Dave Canales.

Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams

Williams came up 58 yards short of being the first 4,000-yard passer in Bears history, but he showed plenty of progress in his first season working with Ben Johnson. Williams led the Bears to an 11-6 regular-season record and posted a league-best seven fourth-quarter comebacks during the season.

Williams made some star-level throws – including an unbelievable 14-yard touchdown toss in the divisional round against the Rams – but will have to improve his accuracy as he continues to develop. He completed just 58.1% of his passes in 2025, the fifth-worst mark among 42 qualified quarterbacks.

Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow

The Bengals posted a 5-3 record with Burrow last season. Without him, they went 1-8. The team’s main focus for the 2026 NFL season, aside from improving its woeful defense, will be to keep Burrow healthy for a full season. He has only played a complete slate three times across his six NFL seasons to date.

Cleveland Browns: Kirk Cousins

As fun as it would be to give Todd Monken a higher-ceiling quarterback like Kyler Murray, the Browns probably don’t have the budget for that. Why? Because Deshaun Watson is set to have an astronomical $80.7 million cap hit in 2026, the last season of the ill-fated five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed extension he signed in Cleveland.

With that in mind, the Browns will have to go with a cheaper option to bring in competition for Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel and Watson in 2026. Cousins – who is set to be released by the Falcons before the new league year – could qualify as a solid veteran stopgap with a mid-tier price tag. He could also be a good mentor for Sanders and Gabriel as the Browns look to continue developing their 2025 draft picks.

Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott

Prescott bounced back nicely in 2025 after a rocky 2024 campaign. He completed 67.3% of his passes for 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and helped lead Dallas to a top-five scoring offense.

The Cowboys went 7-9-1 last season, largely due to their ineffective defense. If they can make improvements on that side of the ball in 2026, they could re-emerge as a playoff contender with Prescott at quarterback.

Denver Broncos: Bo Nix

The Broncos asked Nix to do a lot last season, as his 612 passing attempts led the NFL. He delivered, leading Denver to a 14-3 record, the AFC’s No. 1 seed and an AFC championship game appearance before a broken ankle sidelined him for the season.

Nix wasn’t always efficient or consistent – as evidenced by his pedestrian 63.4% completion rate and middling 6.4 yards per attempt – but he is an ideal fit in Sean Payton’s offense, which relies on the short passing game to carry it.

Detroit Lions: Jared Goff

Many wondered how Goff would fare after Ben Johnson left the Lions during the offseason. Goff silenced his doubters, completing 68% of his passes for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions while ranking fifth among quarterbacks in EPA, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.

Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love

Love has led the Packers to nine wins and a playoff berth in each of his three seasons as the team’s starting quarterback. Last year, he posted a career-high 101.2 passer rating while throwing just six interceptions, his lowest across any of his seasons as a full-time starter.

Love is still just 27 years old, so the Packers will be happy to see if he can grow under yet another season under Matt LaFleur’s tutelage.

Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud

Stroud’s stock has fallen slightly since his 2023 Rookie of the Year campaign, and it took a major hit during the 2025 NFL playoffs. Across two games, Stroud looked frazzled, completing just 51.9% of his passes for 462 yards, two touchdowns and a playoff-worst five interceptions while taking six sacks.

While Stroud’s postseason performance will give many pause when evaluating his future, he has still led the Texans to playoff appearances and a postseason victory in each of his first three seasons. The Texans will chalk up the 24-year-old’s recent struggles to growing pains and expect him to bounce back in 2026.

Indianapolis Colts: Daniel Jones

Jones had one of the surprise breakouts of the 2025 NFL season. He beat Anthony Richardson for the Colts’ starting job and proceeded to have a career-best season, completing 68% of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions across 13 games.

Jones is set to be a free agent, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which he and the Colts don’t agree to a deal to extend their partnership. The only complicating factor is that the 28-year-old tore his Achilles in Week 14, but odds are the two parties will find a middle ground.

If not, keep an eye on the Vikings – with whom Jones had a cup of coffee in 2024 – as a potential landing spot.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence

Lawrence’s first season with Liam Coen was nothing short of excellent. The 2021 NFL Draft’s No. 1 overall pick posted his third 4,000-yard passing season while adding a career-best 29 passing touchdowns to go along with 359 rushing yards and nine rushing scores.

Expect the 26-year-old’s growth to continue as he, Coen and offensive coordinator Grant Udinski prepare for a second season together.

Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes had just an 89.6 passer rating last season – his worst in eight seasons as a full-time starter – but the two-time MVP remains one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. The only questions are whether he will be ready for Week 1 after suffering a torn ACL in Week 15, and – if not – who will be his replacement with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew set to be a free agent.

Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza

Any doubt about Mendoza being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft was effectively erased when Dante Moore decided to go back to Oregon. The Raiders are looking for a franchise quarterback, and Mendoza is, far and away, the best quarterback in the 2026 draft class.

Mendoza completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions in his lone season at Indiana. He won the Heisman Trophy for his efforts and led the Hoosiers to an undefeated, 16-0 season and a national title. First-year coach Klint Kubiak will relish a chance to develop Mendoza after helping Sam Darnold become a Super Bowl champion.

Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert

Herbert helped the Chargers to a playoff berth despite playing behind one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines. Their goal in the offseason will be to improve their interior offensive line to prevent Herbert from being pressured as often as he was in 2026.

Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford

Stafford just won the NFL MVP award in 2025 and announced during his acceptance speech he would be back for his age-38 season. The Rams will be happy to get another bite at the Super Bowl apple with him.

Miami Dolphins: Malik Willis

The Dolphins’ new brain trust of coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan came to the team from the Packers. That could make Miami the ideal organization to take a flier on Willis as a young quarterback with starter upside.

Willis was a third-round pick by the Titans in 2022 but has spent the last two seasons with the Packers. In limited action in place of Jordan Love, Willis has posted a 2-1 record as a starter while completing 78.7% of his passes for 972 yards and six touchdowns without throwing an interception.

Willis also has excellent mobility and will only be 27 in May, giving him plenty of time to blossom into a dual-threat starter. Don’t be surprised if he draws a lot of interest from quarterback-needy teams as he hits free agency.

Minnesota Vikings: Derek Carr

OK, let’s get a little crazy. The Vikings aren’t going to give up on J.J. McCarthy, but they are expected to bring in a veteran quarterback to challenge him, much like the Colts did with Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson last season.

Could that be a player like Carr? The veteran retired ahead of the 2025 NFL season due to a labral tear in his shoulder, but recent rumors from NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo indicate the 34-year-old could consider coming back for the right situation.

Minnesota could represent that, as the Vikings are a ready-now team with plenty of talent at receiver and a solid offensive line. There are plenty of obstacles to this deal – including that Carr would have to be acquired via trade from the Saints, would likely need a restructured deal and would need to be open to the idea of competing with McCarthy for the starting job – but it doesn’t seem completely far-fetched.

New England Patriots: Drake Maye

Maye enjoyed a breakout second season with the Patriots, finishing second in the NFL’s MVP voting after leading the league in completion rate (72%), passer rating (113.5) and EPA (151.2). His playoff performance wasn’t as strong, and he struggled in his team’s Super Bowl 60 loss to the Seahawks, but the Patriots will remain encouraged by what the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft accomplished in his second season.

New Orleans Saints: Tyler Shough

Shough turned 26 during his rookie season but he showed that he has plenty of upside across 11 starts with the Saints. He led the team to a 6-5 record while completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. Kellen Moore and Mickey Loomis should be excited to continue building around the Louisville product.

New York Giants: Jaxson Dart

Dart showcased plenty of upside in his first NFL season. He was one of the league’s best runners at quarterback, generating 489 yards and nine touchdowns across 14 games, and completed 63.7% of his passes for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Now, he will get a chance to play for John Harbaugh.

New York Jets: Kyler Murray

The Jets are in a tough spot at quarterback. They have the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but unless they love Ty Simpson, there won’t be a signal-caller worth selecting that early. That could lead the team to explore the veteran quarterback market and potentially take a swing on a player like Murray.

Murray was unspectacular across five starts last season, but he has a powerful arm and the mobility needed to be a dual-threat playmaker. He also wouldn’t cost much via trade, as he has two years – plus a club option – remaining on the five-year, $230.5 million contract he signed with the Cardinals.

Few NFL teams will want to give up a big-time draft asset for Murray and pay that amount, so Arizona may be forced to sell low on him. The Jets are armed with $83.3 million in cap space – fourth-most in the NFL, per OverTheCap.com – and 10 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, so they may be uniquely positioned to target Murray.

Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts

Hurts is an efficient quarterback who completed 64.8% of his passes for 3,224 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions last season. He also isn’t overly explosive, as his 4.6% ‘big time throw’ percentage ranked 17th among 43 quarterbacks with at least 150 dropbacks last season, per Pro Football Focus.

Still, he has led the Eagles to five consecutive playoff berths and a Super Bowl title, so they will continue to trust one of the architects of the ‘Tush Push.’

Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers

San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy

Purdy has led the 49ers to the playoffs in two of his three seasons as a starter and had a Super Bowl appearance in his second season. Expect Kyle Shanahan to continue rolling with Purdy while keeping the trusty Mac Jones around as his backup.

Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold

Darnold led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win and became just the second quarterback in NFL history to win 14 games in back-to-back seasons. The other was Tom Brady. Enough said.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield

The Buccaneers were victims of an epic collapse in the second half of the season, but Mayfield wasn’t entirely to blame for that. He still enjoyed a solid season – completing 63.2% of his passes for 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions – while battling a shoulder injury. Perhaps new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson will get more out of him than Josh Grizzard did in his lone season in that role.

Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward

The Titans didn’t spend the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Cam Ward to give up on him after one season. The Miami product showed growth over the final month of his rookie season as well, so it will be interesting to see what he can do with an improved supporting cast in 2026.

Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels

Daniels played in just seven games amid an injury-plagued sophomore season after posting one of the greatest rookie seasons in NFL history. The Commanders will hope he can return to his 2024 form next season as David Blough takes over for Kliff Kingsbury as Washington’s offensive coordinator.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Conor McDermott-Mostowy was never one for team sports.

Growing up in Washington, D.C., speedskating appealed to him more than hockey. He didn’t like the idea of other people depending on him. When he laced up his skates, McDermott-Mostowy only wanted to be held accountable to himself.

There was more to it than that, though. A more subconscious deterrent from sharing the blame and the glory of whatever transpired out on the ice with other people. Team sports were not a place for closeted gay kids like him.

Now he’s one of a record-breaking – according to Outsports – 49 out LGBTQ+ athletes at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. An encouraging number, albeit small (equal to about 21.1% of Team USA). Still, McDermott-Mostowy is glad to be part of “the last generation to grow up without representation in sport.”

“You have to believe it to achieve it,” he told USA TODAY. “Seeing more queer people, especially, I feel like, seeing more gay or queer men in sports is really important.”

There are eight out LGBTQ+ athletes competing for Team USA at the 2026 Olympics. Seven of them are women – downhill skiing gold medalist Breezy Johnson, figure skating gold medalist Amber Glenn, snowboarder Maddy Schaffrick, speedskater Brittany Bowe and hockey players Hilary Knight, Alex Carpenter and Cayla Barnes. And then there’s McDermott-Mostowy.

Johnson spoke with USA TODAY about her decision to come out publicly as bisexual in 2022. Growing up, she wanted to be a champion. “More than I wanted my favorite color to be blue or that I wanted pasta for dinner or whatever,” Johnson said. “I wanted to be good at skiing.”

That meant doing what the greats do. Which, at that point, meant being straight or keeping part of your identity a secret. At least until retirement. 

Before her boyfriend Connor Watkins proposed to her at the finish line after her super-G run in Cortina, Johnson referenced a lyric in singer Maddie Zahm’s song “You Might Not Like Her”: “Convinced you’re not bi ‘cause you’re way too into guys.”

“That really resonated with me as a concept,” Johnson said. “I just was like, ‘I don’t have to deal with this other side. I’m really good at compartmentalizing and putting things in boxes, and so I’ll just do that.’ 

“… In seeing other athletes that were out, I was like, ‘OK, maybe you don’t have to let it get dusty before you open it up.’ So that was my aim in coming out, and I hope that kids take that. That they can be any version of themselves. Whether that’s somebody who likes Legos or somebody who’s openly gay.”

A big moment for McDermott-Mostowy was when freeskier Gus Kenworthy came out in an ESPN The Magazine cover story 11 years ago. Back then, it felt to McDermott-Mostowy like athletes only came out after retirement or if they managed to be so exceptional that no one could hold their identity against them. He calls it “a culture of fear.” Fear of blowback within the sport. Fear of the media’s reaction. Fear of sponsorships falling apart.

But Kenworthy’s story meant a lot to McDermott-Mostowy, who had been skating for a few years at that point, nearing his move to long track at age 17. While he’s sure people around him knew he was gay before he officially came out to them after Kenworthy’s public declaration, McDermott-Mostowy still felt the same pressures Johnson described.

You can be yourself out in the open when you’re done being an athlete.

Now, the contingent of openly queer athletes is big enough to be its own country (20th largest in 2026). As of Tuesday morning in Italy, Team LGBTQ has six medals – with dozens of athletes still competing – which would tie South Korea for 12th among all nationals. The gay dating app Grindr also announced it was enhancing its privacy features this month to protect LGBTQ+ athletes.

Many athletes have spoken about feeling “mixed emotions” representing the United States at the Olympics. They’ve used their access to sports’ biggest stage to draw attention to topics they hold dear, LGBTQ+ athletes included.

McDermott-Mostowy feels there’s never been a more important time for queer people to compete for Team USA. From bathroom bans to restrictions around the discussion of pronouns and sexual orientation in schools to even the recent news of President Donald Trump removing the pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in New York City. McDermott-Mostowy feels an obligation to be visible.

“Team USA is so diverse,” he said. “Team USA has so many queer people on it, and other identifiers, and we’re so good because of that. I think that’s really important for people back home to see. But I also feel like on a global stage, it’s really important to be competing right now and show the world that the United States is not a monolith.”

Glenn, who is pansexual, made history as the first openly queer Olympic women’s figure skater. She posted pictures of her and teammate Alysa Liu with their team skate gold medals on TikTok with the caption: “They hate to see two woke bitches winning.’

“If ‘Woke’ means people who use their platforms to advocate for marginalized communities in the country that they are actively representing…….’ Glenn continued, ‘Then yeah sure?”

And to those who respond to athlete’s criticisms of home with, “Shut up and skate,” McDermott-Mostowy says the Olympics have always been political.

Take the USA’s boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Or Adolf Hitler’s use of the 1936 Berlin Games as pro-Nazi propaganda. If world leaders can use this Olympics to further their own diplomatic interest, why can’t athletes?

“We’re not here just as entertainment for you,” McDermott-Mostowy said. “…if you want to enjoy us on the field of play, you also need to sit back and listen.”

Reach USA TODAY Network sports reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com, and follow her on X @petitus25.

MILAN — On paper, all four qualification games in the men’s hockey tournament look like easy predictions.

But as the 2026 Winter Olympics preliminary round already has shown, anything can happen once the puck drops.

Canada, USA, Slovakia and Finland emerged from round-robin play to claim the top four seeds and advance into the quarterfinals to be played Wednesday, Feb. 18 at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Traditional hockey power Sweden is the biggest name that has to play for a chance to advance on Tuesday.

Here’s a look at each game, and a prediction (all times are Eastern):

Germany vs. France, winner plays Slovakia

This is one of two early (6:10 a.m.) games (this one at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena). The Germans haven’t had a great tournament – their only victory was against Denmark, thanks to the goaltending of Philipp Grubauer. Germany’s captain and superstar, Leon Draisaitl, has one goal and two assists – not overwhelming numbers for a guy of his skill level. He didn’t get any points in the 5-1 loss to the USA that capped the German’s final round-robin outing. But, as far as opponents go, France went 0-3 in the preliminary round, and was outscored, 20-5.

Prediction: Germany.

Switzerland vs. Italy, winner plays Finland

This is the other early game (6:10 a.m. at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena). The Swiss beat France in group play, lost to Canada and beat Czechia in overtime. There’s a lot of talent on the team, even with the devastating loss of star Kevin Fiala, who was stretchered off against Canada and needed surgery to repair fractures in his left lower leg. The Swiss ended up with the fifth seed after the preliminary round. Host country Italy, on the other hand, finished at the bottom of the 12-team group, and had a minus-15 goal differential.

Prediction: Switzerland.

Czechia vs. Denmark, winner plays Canada

The game’s at 4:40 p.m. The Czechs, generally a hockey power, fell to the eighth seed after losing to Canada, beating France and falling to the Swiss in overtime. They have a minus-three goal differential. Martin Necas, their top scorer, has two goals and three assists. The Czechs come into the qualification round have played mediocre hockey so far. The Danes, on the other hand, gave USA its biggest challenge in Group C play, with the underdog twice taking the lead. They lost to Germany, too, but outplayed their southern neighbor, and then rallied to defeat Latvia in the final game. With Frederik Andersen in net and NHLers including Lars Eller and Nikolaj Ehlers in the lineup, the Danes have reason for confidence.

Prediction: Denmark

Sweden vs. Latvia, winner plays USA

The day’s late game (3:10 p.m.) puts hockey power Sweden’s Olympic hopes on the line. The Swedes looked lackadaisical in their opening game against Italy, almost winning in spite of themselves. Then they managed to give an uninspiring performance against Nordic rival Finland, outplayed by the Finns in every aspect in a 4-1 loss. The Swedes finished the round by defeating Slovakia, but allowed a late goal that gave gave Slovakia the top spot in the group. It would be an embarrassment for Sweden to not advance. Latvia ended up in fourth place in Group C, with one victory, against Germany. Always a plucky team, the Latvians can play much looser than their opponent.

Prediction: Sweden.

Athletes from more than 90 countries will compete for Winter Olympic medals in 116 events over 16 days, and USA TODAY is keeping a tally of every nation finishing on the podium. Here’s a look at the latest medal standings on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 17, as well as when each medal event will take place.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of more than a dozen journalists on the ground in Italy to bring you behind the scenes with Team USA and keep you up to date with every medal win, big moment and triumphant finish. Get our Chasing Gold newsletter in your inbox every morning and join our WhatsApp channel to get the latest updates right in your texts.

Broadcast coverage of the 2026 Milano Cortino Winter Olympics is airing exclusively airing across NBC’s suite of networks with many competitions airing live on its streaming service, Peacock, which you can sign up for here .

What is the medal count at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics?

All data accurate as of Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at 8:56 a.m.

Meet Team USA 2026: Get to know the athletes behind the games

• 1. Norway: 29 Total (13 Gold, 7 Silver, 9 Bronze)
• 2. Italy: 23 Total (8 Gold, 4 Silver, 11 Bronze)
• 3. United States: 19 Total (6 Gold, 8 Silver, 5 Bronze)
• 4. Japan: 18 Total (4 Gold, 5 Silver, 9 Bronze)
• 5. Germany: 17 Total (4 Gold, 7 Silver, 6 Bronze)
• 6. Austria: 16 Total (5 Gold, 8 Silver, 3 Bronze)
• 7. France: 15 Total (4 Gold, 7 Silver, 4 Bronze)
• 8. Netherlands: 12 Total (6 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• 9. Sweden: 11 Total (5 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• 9. Canada: 11 Total (2 Gold, 4 Silver, 5 Bronze)
• 11. Switzerland: 10 Total (5 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze)
• 12. South Korea: 6 Total (1 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze)
• 13. Australia: 5 Total (3 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• 13. China: 5 Total (0 Gold, 3 Silver, 2 Bronze)
• 15. Czech Republic: 4 Total (2 Gold, 2 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 15. Slovenia: 4 Total (2 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• 15. Poland: 4 Total (0 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• 15. Finland: 4 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 4 Bronze)
• 19. Great Britain: 3 Total (3 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 20. Latvia: 2 Total (0 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• 20. New Zealand: 2 Total (0 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze)
• 20. Bulgaria: 2 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 2 Bronze)
• 23. Brazil: 1 Total (1 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 23. Kazakhstan: 1 Total (1 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 23. Georgia: 1 Total (0 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Bronze)
• 23. Belgium: 1 Total (0 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze)

2026 Winter Olympics upcoming medal events schedule

Feb. 17

• SNOWBOARDING: Women’s Slopestyle Final
• BIATHLON: Men’s 4×7.5km Relay
• SPEED SKATING: Men’s, Women’s Team Pursuit Finals
• BOBSLED: Men’s Doubles

Feb. 18

• CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Women’s, Men’s Team Sprint Free Final
• FREESTYLE SKIING: Women’s Aerials Final
• SNOWBOARDING: Men’s Slopestyle Final
• ALPINE SKIING: Women’s Slalom
• BIATHLON: Women’s 4x6km Relay
• SHORT TRACK: Women’s 3000m Relay
• SHORT TRACK: Men’s 500m

Feb. 19

• FREESTYLE SKIING: Men’s Aerials Final
• SKI MOUNTAINEERING: Women’s, Men’s Sprint
• NORDIC COMBINED: Team Sprint/Large Hill 2×7.5km
• ICE HOCKEY: Women’s Final
• SPEED SKATING: Men’s 1500m
• FIGURE SKATING: Women’s Free Skate

Feb. 20

• FREESTYLE SKIING: Women’s Cross Final
• BIATHLON: Men’s 15km Mass Start
• SPEED SKATING: Women’s 1500m
• CURLING: Men’s Bronze Medal Game
• FREESTYLE SKIING: Men’s Halfpipe Final
• SHORT TRACK: Men’s 5000m Relay Final
• SHORT TRACK: Women’s 1500m Final

Feb. 21

• CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Men’s 50km Mass Start Classic
• FREESTYLE SKIING: Mixed Team Aerials Final
• FREESTYLE SKIING: Men’s Cross Final
• SKI MOUNTAINEERING: Mixed Relay
• CURLING: Men’s Gold Medal Game, Women’s Bronze Medal Game
• BIATHLON: Women’s 12.5km Mass Start
• SPEED SKATING: Men’s, Women’s Mass Start
• FREESTYLE SKIING: Women’s Halfpipe Final
• ICE HOCKEY: Men’s Bronze Medal Game
• BOBSLED: Women’s Doubles: Heat 4

Feb. 22

• CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING: Women’s 50km Mass Start Classic
• CURLING: Women’s Gold Medal Game
• BOBSLED: Men’s Quads Final
• ICE HOCKEY: Men’s Gold Medal Game